Question

Should I breastfeed or bottle-feed my baby?

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I know breast milk is best for my baby but the thought of nursing fills me with dread. I keep saying I'm planning to breastfeed but the closer I get to my due date, the more my anxiety grows. Meanwhile, the thought of bottle-feeding fills me with relief. Should I try to breastfeed or go with bottle-feeding?

I just read all of these comments but the one that really sticks out is from "anonymous" from 11/11/05. You can nourish and bond with your child through breast-milk, but who's going to teach them to not be as rude and judgemental as you are? Advice to other women who may stess out or feel guilty about not breast-feeding: Don't listen to any advice! Breast-feeding vs. bottle-feeding is like talking about religion or politics at the dinner table! I just can't believe how cruel some breast-feeding mothers can be. It really isn't nice to make other mothers feel like less of a mother for bottle-feeding. It's in poor taste.

Question for anyone: A good friend of mine is trying to get her son to take a bottle of breastmilk (he's 8 months old) because she is back to work two days a week and he will be staying with her mother - he is refusing, but she can't afford not to go back to work, at least temporarily - any hints I can pass along to her? He would only need about 2 bottles per day he is with his grandma. (She would prefer to try ways to get him to take the pumped milk rather than supplement just yet) Thanks so much!

Lisa - I never said I was disgusted with my breasts! THis is going way too far... I'm uncomfortable with breastfeeding - bottomline. I don't have any childhood secrets or weird reasons as to why that is - it just is what it is. Some people are uncomfortable doing certain things - for me it was breastfeeding, for others, it may be other things. Please stop reading into my posts telling me my discomfort is a "problem!" The problem is people like you telling moms like me that chose to bottle feed that we need therapy instead of being respectful of our decisions. Let this page get back to its purpose - a SUPPORT group - not an attack on certain decisions those of us have made relating to feeding our babies. Have a nice day and Merry Christmas

Thanks Tina! I just want this page to stay supportive to all mothers, breast feeding or bottle feeding.. I agree each person needs to decide what works for them and go with it for a happy experience with their newborn in an already stressful first few months! Good luck with everything whatever you end up doing!

I just had my baby 4 days ago. I breastfed her the entire time I was in the hospital. She weighed 8lbs 6ounces when she was born. When she was discharged from the hopital she weighed 7lb 14ounces. The enitre time she wasn't getting anything out of my breasts. Since it was so painful to breastfeed I dreaded each feeding. My husband saw how much it was making me cry to breastfeed, so we discused it as a family, and decided that bottle feeding was best for us. So as soon as we left the hospital we stopped and bought several diffrent kinds of formula so we coud see which one our daughter liked best. She prefers the bottle much better than the breast. I like bottle feeding her, because I know exactly how much she is eating. I believe that its a personal decision, and you shouldn't be made to feel like a bad mother if you don't breastfeed.
Besides I wouldn't feel comfortable breastfeeding in public, I had a hard enough time with it in the hospital when the nureses were watching ,and doctor. I'm glad I decided to bottle feed our baby girl,because she is much happier and so am I. I agree with reillysmom, I think breastfeeding is a personal question.

It is strange to me for people to ask if I am breastfeeding because to me that is asking someone a personal question. For me it's like someone walking up and asking me out of the blue if I'm having my period, or what kind of underwear I prefer. It may seem weird to you, but I have a standard of privacy that most people I know also have (including a friend who is breastfeeding and feels the same). I talk about it alot with my close friends, or family members with children - or if I get into an actual conversation with someone beyond "Hi." I just think it is awkward when it is a person I don't know and it is the FIRST question they ask. It is rather presumptuous and personal to blurt out right away. I was simply trying to tell a funny story to say that maybe people should think before they ask certain questions to people they don't know.

A side comment: Why must people you don't even know ask if you are breastfeeding?? It is a rather personal question unless you are talking to a good friend about it..etc...so many people have asked me - first thing!(at the store, at the gas station, at the mall...)Finally, I was at Target with my infant daughter - she had a meltdown and needed to eat, so as I was near the checkout, I stopped to sit and feed her a bottle. A saleslady came up to me and said "ohhh, are you breastfeeding??" I was definitely shocked that some stranger I didn't know would ask that,especially as the first question! So I turned and asked her..."oh, no... what color underwear are you wearing?"... She got the point... look, it is a funny story - but seriously people - don't ask perfect strangers things like that!! It's awkward and frankly none of their business!! I usually ask - "how old is your baby... he/she is cute...congratulations..." All other questions I usually save for good friends... just something to think about when talking to other random mothers :)

To Sarah: Try being a little more respectful to moms who bottle feed. There is no reason, with formula a healthy alternative these days, that I should HAVE to breastfeed. I knew I didn't want to breastfeed from day 1. It is people like you who give breastfeeding a bad name. I have a good friend and sister in law who exclusively breastfeed - good for them. They are extremely comfortable with it, and doing just fine. I wasn't, so I bottle fed. The difference between you and them? They don't judge - they don't make mothers feel badly about informed decisions they make. I did what was best for my daughter and me, and don't regret a thing. Also, there is a reason human beings developed the formula we have today - because we aren't animals living in the forest. Please don't compare - and stop insulting bottle feeding mothers - it was more important to me that I enjoy the bonding time with my daughter - hopefully you see that the character of the time spent with the baby is more important than chastising a parent for bottle feeding.

To Anonymous who said because of breastfeeding your son never got sick: Newsflash: My brother and I were both breastfed babies... I had ear infections and colds until I was almost 18 months old.... and my daughter who is bottle fed also has ear infections, but less colds that I did...there are many variables that go in to children getting sick, breast or bottle fed - just some info for you since my brother and I were not bottle fed - but still sick!

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